How to Rid a Home of Pantry Moths or Weevils

Bugs in your flour and cornmeal? Suspect pantry moths or weevils. The first line of defense is good housekeeping. Moths and weevils don't like clean surroundings so to protect your pantry you should try to minimize keeping food out that is accessible to these bugs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Airtight Containers
• Hand Towels
• Dish Soap
• Cannister Vacuum Cleaners
• Kitchen Sponges

1. Check for infestation. Examine all food packages for telltale signs of moth or weevil infestation: Webbing in corners, grains clumped together with sticky secretions, or small holes in containers. Also look for small bugs in the food or little moths flying around the kitchen. If you find them, read on.

2. Clean infested areas. Vacuum cupboards, then thoroughly scrub all shelves with soapy water, paying close attention to cracks and corners. Dry the cleaned area thoroughly. Keep cupboard and food-storage areas dry.

3. Discard infested food.

4. Store food properly. Clean containers with hot, soapy water, then rinse and dry them thoroughly before refilling. Use tightly sealed metal, glass or hard plastic containers to store food; plastic bags are inadequate, as insects can get through them. Keep old and new food separate, and keep infrequently used items in the freezer.

5. Eliminate the pests' food sources (such as improperly stored food) and breeding grounds (such as rodent nests).

Tips & Warnings

• Pantry moth larvae eat a wide assortment of foods, ranging from flour to dried chiles and candy.
• It takes six to eight weeks for the pantry moth to complete its life cycle.
• Do not use pesticides in or around any area where food is prepared or on food itself.

[hobokenfrank]

on 5/22/2009 hoboken frank here still looking for an answer to my question below on where pantry moths can live. many thanks! and dont forget --fly me to the moon baby!

[hobokenfrank]

on 5/21/2009 never had pantry noths in 10 years til now. thought we got rid of em last year and now theyre back!!!!can they live w/out food particles?? and can they nest in a corner w/out food... IF i knew this it wld help me get the no gooders!!!thx.

[Chaser100]

on 11/14/2008 PLEASE HELP, We have had pantry moths, i have thoroughly cleaned everything in the pantry, threw almost everything out as it had the little grub thingies growing on everything! but they are still there, since the clean (and the warm weather?) they have now multiplied and spread throught the house and i dont know what to do.is there something you can buy to kill the little buggers or should i get the 'bug man' in?
any help and i would be very grateful, thanks Yarna
[e-mail]

[stressless]

on 10/18/2008 First n my long life I have discovered grain weevils in my pantry!! Now they're gone I discovered plastic is not healthy... for anything. Store grains etc in GLASS containers -left over from a product used. Otherwise, store in refrig or freez. Good luck!

[scook6]

on 9/29/2008 This was useless advice. This should go under "no duh!" I read better advice in the old fogey website. They said to keep matches in the flour b/c the things don't like sulfur.